I recently purchased 1/6th of an acre of Greenbelt land, I have cleared the land, erected a 2metre high fence, and laid turf on around 3/4 of the purchased land. Do I need planning permission to plant a Laurel hedge within the fence, to act as screening.

Mr D wrote:I recently purchased 1/6th of an acre of Greenbelt land, I have cleared the land, erected a 2metre high fence, and laid turf on around 3/4 of the purchased land. Do I need planning permission to plant a Laurel hedge within the fence, to act as screening.

no - planning permission is only required if land is to be developed and planting a hedge is not development as far as planning law is concerned.

You do not need to get planning permission to plant the hedge. You may need planning permission for a change of use. Green belt is a planning designation not a use class. What was the land used for, e.g.; agriculture, the keeping of horses, domestic garden. If you want to change it from one use to another, e.g. agricultural to domestic garden, you will need planning permission.

It wasn't used as anything, it was very poor quality deciduous woodland which is greenbelt, part of my neighbours 9 acres. My planning application is to make theland part of my garden curtilage, I don't know if that means it would then change from greenbelt classification to domestic garden, any views would be appreciated.

Mr D wrote:It wasn't used as anything, it was very poor quality deciduous woodland which is greenbelt, part of my neighbours 9 acres. My planning application is to make theland part of my garden curtilage, I don't know if that means it would then change from greenbelt classification to domestic garden, any views would be appreciated.

The Surrey Wildlife Trust doesn't seem to agree. You really would be better restricting yourself to one thread.

' Surrey Wildlife Trust have commented that the woodland that I have cleared is " Identified by Natural England as a Habitat of Principal Importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity in England" , does this make any difference, I did not know any of this before I cleared the land.'

You have bought an area of lowland mixed deciduous woodland which you have cleared. I guess it wasn't TPO'd or in a conservation area or we'd be having a different conversation. I take it you didn't need a felling licence either. You have put in an application for a change of use to domestic garden. You can plant your hedge, it doesn't need permission no matter what the outcome of your planning application.

Correct, not enough wood for a felling license, it is Identified by Natural England as a Habitat of Principal Importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity in England, does this make any difference, all I want to do is plant a hedge, which is evergreen, maybe create a natural pond and also plant some more trees, but be free to plant the trees of my choice.

Mr D wrote:Correct, not enough wood for a felling license, it is Identified by Natural England as a Habitat of Principal Importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity in England, does this make any difference, all I want to do is plant a hedge, which is evergreen, maybe create a natural pond and also plant some more trees, but be free to plant the trees of my choice.

This will make any planning application for change of use a lot harder.

Have you thought about alternative species to laurel? You might as well paint fence panels snot green. If you want evergreen, why not holly? You could achieve decent screening with a double row of hornbeam or beech. Anything but cheap, manky and sterile laurel. It's only redeeming factor is the marzipan smell it gives off when it goes the chipper (although that's cyanide).